True Partnership

At the end of the day, it is about partnership and collaboration. While many individual or organisations have done an excellent job or performed well in discharging their duties, many have not gone beyond their usual routine simply because of lacking capacity or even ideas or complacency. Hence, smart partnership with others might have changed this limitation of breaking through.


Having said this, at time due to egoism and lack of communication, sincere, workable and equal partnership cannot be formed. Two organisations having strong characteristic and opinion in leadership are always having difficulty to sit down and create a consensus even on common and petty issue.


For partnership to forge ahead and bear result, firstly I think both the partners need to open their mind set and go back to the equal footing first. It is no point of influencing others with own opinion without considering other sides, too are having their priority. However, in most cases, this is what happened at the community level. Negotiation and power play are real at the neighbourhood level. Everyone is trying to impose his/her value onto others and if both are strong in their opinion, then conflict might have occurred. Thereby, agreed to disagree is becoming important and critical.

Partnership is a phrase that everyone is trying to use but it is utmost difficult to achieve if equality and equity is taking into consideration. Leadership that embrace equal and smart partnership is likely the one to achieve desire result and, hence the respect from others.

Well, looking nowadays that people are kept accusing others of foul play and dissatisfaction on issues and proposal brought forward, I am wondered that such thing of smart partnership has been achieved.

Community Service

29th April until 2nd May saw the gathering of 1,400 like-minded people at the LIONS Multiple District 308 Convention in Suntec, Singapore. It is an annual event for electing new leadership and charting the programmes for next fiscal year. It is also a fellowship session to chit chat and share experiences with others on serving the community. As the largest service club in the World, LIONS have been known for their tireless and selfless efforts in serving the underprivileged and unfortunates. Thereby, the gathering also saw those excel in works being recognised and rewarded.

Community service especially on voluntary basis is never an easy task. It is not that difficult to extend our helping hand to the needy, either in cash, kind or passion. The most challenging part to me is getting members to continue and to sustain their energy to serve long term programmes. While many have started an activity well, the activity might have only one off effect and short term gain to the beneficiaries. Some social workers have spoken against the one off activity at welfare homes that will disturb the daily routine of the inmates. It is not uncommon for the inmates to return to their normal life after many days because of excitement created during visits by volunteers. Thereby, it is advisable to have long term project with the welfare homes and it is important too to have schedule visits or activities rather than in piece meal during the festive seasons only.

In order to do so, sustainability in terms of energy, capacity and enthusiasm is critical. While many Lions are passionate of serving, many might have difficulty to stay put longer with a project. Many community services failed because lack of sustaining power or continuity. So, it is important to overcome this challenge by deploying better strategies. Perhaps to synergies and to pool different resources from various stakeholders together for a particular project. It is about smart partnership and sharing of resources.

Innovation in Recycling

Since the inception of Recycling Campaign in Malaysia, we have been told about the 3 colours bins for different type of wastes. However, unless we used to recycled or else we always forget about which colour bin for which type of waste. Having said this, this prototype square bin has managed to implant onto mind of every environmental concerned people especially the children. We are so used to seeing these bins around but time goes by, many people has forgotten about the excitement associated to recycling efforts. We take things for granted that the bins should be there but cannot figure out the reason of having them there permanently.

Definitely some innovation should have been created to further enhance the programme. I was excited to see these recycling bins at the Changi Airport last week en route to my Lions Convention. The bins are designed with specific shape and colours. I think it is easy for many to throw their waste without second thought. I am wondering why can't we have the same innovation?

CSR at Work

I learned a lesson about corporate social responsibility last Thursday. While many corporates have carried on with the CSR programmes for PR purpose and to fulfill minimum requirement on good governance, very few have done with thoughtful and thorough planning. AkzoNobel company proved me wrong.

I have discussion with them over the suggestion of partnering in the River Rehabilitation programme. We are thinking of encouraging community based organisations to adopt the drains and rivers fronting their neighbourhood. The Adoption Scheme involves keeping an eye on the drains, preventing pollutants from the drains, cleanliness and beautification and other activities with community participation. One of the interesting activities was painting mural on the surface of monsoon drain. That's why a meeting was set up with representatives from AkzoNobel to discuss their involvement and contribution.

They mentioned to me the many CSR programmes they have done worldwide. One of the principle strike me the most is their pre-evaluation process in deciding project participation. For example, in order for them to help in the drain adoption project, they will have to send in their Safety, Health and Environmental team for further evaluation. And if they decided to participate, it is not only on kind contribution, but engaging the local to work together with their staff. They will dispatch professional painters to guide local on the proper painting works or even to do in entirely on their own. According to them, they have the duty to educate people on colour and methods of sustaining the painting work. I personally impress with this philosophy of educating people by sharing their experience and know how.